Tian Chua eligible to contest in GE14

SHAH ALAM: Batu MP Tian Chua will be able to contest in the 14th General Election (GE14) after the High Court reduced his fine from RM3,000 to RM2,000 for insulting the modesty of a police officer in 2014.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman reduced the fine meted out by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court last year following an appeal against his conviction.
Abdul Karim dismissed a cross-appeal by the prosecution to raise the fine of RM3,000 imposed on Tian Chua whose real name is Chua Tian Chang, 54, and reduced the fine to RM2,000 in lieu of two months jail.
He, however, dismissed the PKR vice-president's appeal against the conviction itself for insulting a police officer four years ago.
Abdul Karim made the decision after he was satisfied the conviction decided by Judge Yasmin Abdul Razak on March 9 last year was ‘safe’.
The Petaling Jaya Sessions Court fined Tian Chua RM3,000 in lieu of three months jail after finding him guilty of insulting Petaling Jaya police officer DSP Glenn A. Sinappah.
He was charged with the offence at the lobby of Hotel Armada, in Petaling Jaya at 7.45pm on April 14, 2014 under Section 509 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine or both.
Tian Chua was represented by counsels N.Surendran and Eric Paulsen while deputy public prosecutor Nurul Huda Mohd Nor appeared for the prosecution.